Not taking your prescription medication can have serious consequences. One study found that 125,000 deaths from cardiovascular disease occur each year because patients don't take their medication. Luckily there are several ways to make it easier to adhere to your treatment. In this article from our Health After 50 newsletter, Johns Hopkins doctors offer practical advice.
It might seem obvious: Take your medicine and you'll feel better. But the reality is often very different. Some medications have side effects that make you feel worse, or you may take so many different medications that keeping up with it all often proves too difficult.
Side effects. Unpleasant side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, and headaches, are one of the biggest reasons people stop taking their medication. Medications that treat risk factors for cardiovascular disease are common culprits. Niacin, a common cholesterol treatment, can cause uncomfortable flushing, for example, and dizziness can occur with ACE inhibitors prescribed to treat hypertension.
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Solution: Don't give up on your treatment. There are ways to manage side effects. Explain your symptoms to your doctor and ask if changing drugs or dosages can help. Sometimes treatment is available to limit particular side effects.
Too many pills. Many people with chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart failure rely on several prescriptions to treat various symptoms and risk factors. Often the sheer volume of medications makes it difficult to remember when to take what treatment.
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Solution: Blister packages, rather than pill bottles, make it easier to see if you've taken your medication. Some blister packages are even marked with the days of week. Ask your doctor if getting your medication in blister packages is an option. Remembering to take your medication is also easier if you can time doses to meals.
Plastic pill calendars or pill boxes are other options. Make sure that the box is easy to open. Medicine bottles should also be easy to open. Ask your pharmacist not to use childproof caps. More expensive electronic pill boxes with reminder alarms also are available. Some units are linked to a central computer system, similar to a home alarm. If the system discovers that you've missed a dose, you or a designated contact person will receive a reminder call from the company.
It costs too much. Medications are expensive, even with insurance. Government-sponsored prescription drug benefits to help cover the costs of medication are available through Medicare and Medicaid, and many independent companies and organizations, such as the AARP, offer pharmacy programs.
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Solution: In addition to finding a drug benefit program that fits your needs, you can talk to your doctor about prescribing a generic, rather than a brand-name medication. If cost is truly prohibitive, you may qualify for assistance programs run by many drug manufacturers, or your doctor may be able to prescribe an alternate, less expensive medication.
